This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.

A method for producing steel strip, in particular hot strip in the form of coiled coils or in the form of folded individual sheets, in which a steel melt is first produced, this is then formed into a strand in a continuous casting system, the strand is then fed into a heating unit and the heated strand is then rolled into hot strip in a subsequent rolling mill. The casting of the strand, the passage through the heating unit, and the rolling take place in a continuous process. To be able to produce hot-rolled steel strips in the most energy-efficient way possible and to make these strips available for further processing into high-quality cold-rolled and, if necessary, coated strips, the invention provides that, first of all, a steel melt is produced.

A burner comprises a primary nozzle for injecting an oxygen-rich gas. The primary nozzle is designed as a supersonic nozzle. A coaxial nozzle having an annular outlet opening is provided for injecting a fuel gas. The coaxial nozzle is designed as a subsonic nozzle and is coaxial to the primary nozzle. The primary nozzle has a convergent portion and a divergent portion, which adjoin each other at a radius of the narrowest cross-section. The annular outlet opening is located at an end face of the burner. The fuel gas, in the form of hydrogen or a mixture of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon-containing gas, is injected at a fixed inlet pressure and a fixed inlet volumetric flow rate, with respect to a planned thermal power of the burner. In contrast, the inlet pressure and the inlet volumetric flow rate of the oxygen-rich gas are varied according to the application.

A process for direct reduction of iron ore in a solid state includes exposing briquettes of iron ore fragments and biomass to electromagnetic energy under anoxic conditions and generating heat within iron ore in the briquettes. The iron ore is reduced in a solid state within the briquettes, and the biomass provides a source of reductant.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects.

A valve for a PCI system of a blast furnace including a valve housing with an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a maintenance opening, a maintenance door that is adapted to close the maintenance opening in an operating position during operation of the valve and that is removable from the maintenance opening into a maintenance position, a valve member movably mounted to the maintenance door, wherein, when the maintenance door is in the operating position, the valve member is movable between a closed position for closing the valve and an open position, and, when the maintenance door is in the maintenance position, the valve member is accessible from outside the valve housing.

A method for producing a homogenous molten composition and a fluid product is disclosed. For example, the method includes producing a first molten metal composition in an enclosed volume, contacting a hydrocarbon reactant with the first molten metal composition, decomposing the hydrocarbon reactant into at least one fluid product and carbon, forming a metal alloy from a mixture of the carbon and the first molten metal composition, and separating a homogenous second molten composition from the metal alloy.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into highcarbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects.

Processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas is employed to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.

A direct reduction system for a direct reduction of iron ore, comprising a reactor having a reduction area and being adapted to be loaded from above with said iron ore; a treatment and feeding line, to process the process gases, thus obtaining a reducing gas mixture, and feed said reducing gas mixture into the reduction area; a line for recovering and treating an exhausted gas exiting the reactor, communicating upstream with the reactor and downstream with said treatment and feeding line; wherein at least one bypass duct is provided, adapted to divert at least one portion of reducing gas mixture from said treatment and feeding line to said recovery and treatment line.